How to Get the Most Out of Budget Airlines in Europe
Americans are used to being kicked in the nuts every time we buy a plane ticket. So when we see a ticket from Barcelona to London for 1€ ($1.50), we automatically assume its a scam. It is and it isn’t. Here are 10 tips to cutting through the bullshit and squeezing the most out of budget flights in Europe:
#1: Don’t Believe the Hype – Calculate the “True Cost”
Many disillusioned travelers have labeled RyanAir Lyin’Air and EasyJet SleazyJet when they realize their 5€ ticket actually costs far more than advertised.
Don’t believe the hype. These fares are cheap compared to traditional carriers, but they are not give-aways. 1€ fares are just advertisement. You must pay around 20-30€ more in taxes. Other clever add-ons you will pay for: checked luggage, transport to some airports, flight insurance, and overweight carry-on baggage.
To find the “true cost”, you have to enter your credit card information and go to the very last page on the website – everything short of actually purchasing the ticket. Then factor in the additional charges mentioned below. Budgeting 5€ per flight is unrealistic. 30-50€ is more sensible, and yet still crazy cheap.
#2: Know Your Options
RyanAir is not the only budget airline. If you only have time to shop, check www.skyscanner.net. It aggregates results from a number of airlines. Although their list is not exhaustive, you can often find better deals on national airlines.
A side note:
flights are generally cheaper traveling north-south than east-west. Northern Europeans flock to the south for their vacations and the high-traffic drops the cost. East-west travel is less common and therefore more expensive.
#3: Book Early
The earlier you book the cheaper you fly. Simple. SkyScanner has a wonderful tool where you can search for the cheapest tickets in a given month (or even a year).
#4: Be Flexible
Flexibility is a crucial element in travel – and budget airlines are no exception. You must be flexible about the day, time and even destination of your flight. But don’t assume that “being flexible” means that you can marinate for a week in an Amsterdam coffee shop and then book your flight for the following day. Often times, leaving just one day earlier/later will cost a fraction of the price. For the cheapest flights, be prepared to fly at 7 AM on a Wednesday morning. If you’re really broke (and/or paranoid about making that cheap flight on time), consider sleeping in the airport. Read more here: www.SleepingInAirports.com.
#5: Skip the Peanuts
Everything on budget airlines costs extra – not just the peanuts. Be careful when purchasing your tickets online. RyanAir will bring you to a page full of pre-checked options, all of which you must un-check, or else you will be charged extra for each one. Travel insurance, SMS notification, or Priority boarding? Hell no. Failing to un-check these boxes will cost you an arm and a leg.
#6: Check Location and Connection Times
Many of RyanAir’s flights actually go to entirely different cities, most notably those to Brussels (Charleroi), Paris (Beauvais), Venice (Treviso), Frankfurt (Hahn), Stockholm (Skavsta), Barcelona (Girona & Reus). The flights are cheap because you are flying to some remote airport, then forced to pay 10-15€ for a bus into the city.
Furthermore, you could royally screw yourself if you overlook the details of your connecting flights. Don’t expect to fly to Barcelona on RyanAir and make a 2-hour connection for your flight across the Atlantic. RyanAir uses a different airport and you won’t make the connection.
That is not to say that these distant airports are a bad option. A 10€ flight with a 10€ bus ride is still only 20€. But if you fly into Paris at 8 PM, don’t plan a date in the Latin Quarter at 9:30PM. Factor in that 1.5 hr bus ride and you should be fine.
#7: Check in Online
Don’t make this amateur mistake. Low-cost airlines are cheap because they have low-costs – i.e. very few staff members. They don’t want a huge line of people waiting to check in for each flight, so they charge 30€ to check-in in person. Check in online, print out your ticket, and spend your 30€ on something more worthwhile.
#8: Pack Light…Really, Really, Light
This is perhaps the most important rule. Read carefully.
Budget Airlines typically allow one carry-on bag for free. Checked luggage is extra. Rules vary for each airline, but typically your carry-on bag must weigh less than 15 kilos and it must fit within the stipulated dimensions. To give you an idea, a small roller bag or a school backpack is acceptable, but your typical “backpacker’s backpack” will not fly. You will have to check it and pay extra. The same goes for any carry-ons over 15 kilos.
More rules apply to checked luggage. Not only do you have to pay to check your baggage, but it also must weigh less than 15 kilos. Expect to pay a hefty fee if your bag is too heavy. A 30-kilo bag will cost you a pretty penny.
The good news is a lot of airports have storage lockers. If plan to fly around on the cheap in Europe, make sure you get a daypack with your backpack. That way, you can lock up your bigger backpack at the airport (daily rates are usually pretty cheap but can add up if you leave it there for weeks) and carry-on your daypack.
#9: Do a Cost/Benefit Analysis
So pull out that calculator and add up all the extra fees and hidden charges – and don’t forget to consider time/convenience. Is it worth it to fly? It is often cheaper to take the train or bus, say, from Paris to Brussels or London.
#10: Lastly, Don’t Over-Do It
Europe is a continent that is supposed to be savored. Rushing to and from the airports will kill the vibes. Budget airlines are only your friend if you use them wisely. They allow you to travel in a couple distant countries in one trip – not to link together a half dozen flights to nearby cities in a span of two weeks.
So if you only have a few weeks, pick a few cities in a few different countries and use them as bases to explore the surrounding areas.
…and don’t forget: RyanAir didn’t exist when your mom and dad traveled in Europe. There is always the train or bus.
Written By: Mark Ayling
Head Writer/Editor-in-Chief of Off Track Planet. Pescatarians are not just cheating vegetarians; we're our own breed and the extra protein makes us more feisty! Rawr
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THIS IS A GREAT ARTICLE! A LOT OF INFORMATION.
YOU ARE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.
i am purchasing airline tickets in Australia very soon, thanks for the great tips they will work in any country.
Thanks for the list. It is full of useful advice.